Hokkaido Feb 2015 - Need Help!

[bryando]

Hi Experts,

Planning a Hokkaido ski and shop experience with wife in Feb 2015. Been to Japan/Tokyo a few times but first time to Hokkaido, thus a bit confused and worried about the planning. Fellow bros and sis please help to advise.....

A few questions:
- when should I start to book for air tix and hotels?
- Looking at JAL for stopover in Tokyo, price for 2 pax is total $2471, is that ex?
- Furano or Niseko? Heard that Furano more suitable for beginners and more "old school japanese culture/feel", any advise?
- Looking at 3 nights stay at ski resort as want to enjoy snow/ski with no rush. Too much? Any good hotels to recommend?
- 2 nights or 3 nights in Sapporo? With the Ice festival and also looking at the Ice Breaking Cruise, how many days in Sapporo main city should I plan?
- How to plan for Airport transfer? (Limo bus same as Tokyo?) and also transfer between Ski resort and main city?
- Any nice onsen resort in main Sapporo city? like with private open-view onsen? thinking of experiencing it for say, one night if price is too ex


Bound to have a lot more questions as still in primary planning stage.

Many many thanks in advance for any help or advise from fellow bros or sis here.....

 

[buzbuz]

No self drive? Airfare seems steep.

 

[bryando]

No self drive? Airfare seems steep.

No self drive, cause I no license

wife not comfy to be only driver, and not confident in driving in snowy winter

 

[tokyofanboi]

A few questions:
- when should I start to book for air tix and hotels?
6mths before departure or discounted airfare by travel date
- Looking at JAL for stopover in Tokyo, price for 2 pax is total $2471, is that ex? That's normal, just make sure you stop at the correct tokyo airport and check your domestic flight at Haneda or Narita, so that your international flight should stop there, no need transfer to another airport
- Furano or Niseko? Heard that Furano more suitable for beginners and more "old school japanese culture/feel", any advise? Niseko is much more famous for skiing, it does offer beginner but well don't over do it and injure yourself, know the limit, no hero saga
- Looking at 3 nights stay at ski resort as want to enjoy snow/ski with no rush. Too much? Any good hotels to recommend? 2 Days 1 Nights is more than enough, usually after the first ski or snowboarding you will be very beaten down
- 2 nights or 3 nights in Sapporo? With the Ice festival and also looking at the Ice Breaking Cruise, how many days in Sapporo main city should I plan? depends where else you going to, will you be going to the ice hotel, ice breaking cruise, if yes, you might want to consider staying nearby there
- How to plan for Airport transfer? (Limo bus same as Tokyo?) and also transfer between Ski resort and main city? Depend where you landed and stay, might need to change transport
- Any nice onsen resort in main Sapporo city? like with private open-view onsen? thinking of experiencing it for say, one night if price is too ex Nice Onsen will be out of sapporo town, will be at Noboribetsu.


During winter season airfare & accommodation will be very expensive and need to book very way way in advance

 

[tokyofanboi]

No self drive, cause I no license

wife not comfy to be only driver, and not confident in driving in snowy winter

Even if you have license, driving in winter is different, don't take risk and enjoy the trip

 

[bryando]

Thanks to Tokyofanboi for the advice......

Any bros out there with any experience or advice to share also? or any hotels to recommend?

Currently looking at the below, while still undecided on heading to Niseko or Furano....

FURANO
New Furano Prince
Furano Prince
Hotel Naturward Furano
Hotel Edel Warme
Resort Inn North Country


Niseko
Niseko Northern Resory Annupuri
Hirafutei
The Green Leaf Niseko Village
Hotel Niseko Alphen

 

[bryando]

Came out with a rough intinery, any advice is greatly appreciated....Planned the skiing part towards the end as dont want to be tired out so early part of the trip.....any advice greatly greatly appreciated! (been to Japan quite a few times but first time to Hokkaido and first time for snow fun....)

Day 1 -
Fly SG to Tokyo, transit to Sapporo (2 nights).
Check in hotel, walk and shop around town

Day 2-
Sapporo
Snow Festival (half day or 3/4 day or full day?)
Shiroi Koibito Park
Mt Moiwa Cable Car

Day 3-
Check out of Sapporo, head to Noboribetsu (1 or 2 nights?)
Nixe Sea Park
Bear Park
Jigokuduni

Day 4-
Check out of Noboribetsu, head to Lake Toya (1 night)
Onsen hotel for 1 night, to catch the Lake Toya night fireworks

Day 5-
Check out of Lake Toya, head to Otaru (1 nights)
Music Box museum
Character House
LeTAO cafe and shop (PATHOS)
Evening dinner at the Otaru River (any place to recommend?)

Day 6-
Check out of Otaru, head to Asahikawa (1 night)
Asahikawa Zoo
Viva Alpaca Farm

Day 7-
Check out of Asahikawa, head to Mombetsu (1 night)
Break Ice cruise (Garinko)
O-Tower (Observatory Tower under the Ice)

Day 8-
Check out of Mombetsu, head to Furano (3 nights)
Check in Ski resort
basic skiing/snowboarding

Day 9-
Snow activities (should be sore from 1st day of skiing)
Dogs-sled, Reindeer-sled,
Snow-mobile tour
Hotair Balloon tour


Day 10-
R&R snow fun during the day
Night Skiing

Day 11-
Check out of Furano, head back to Sapporo (1 night)
Final shopping n food

Day 12-
Sapporo to Tokyo

(still considering if stopover Tokyo for 1 or 2 nights before heading back to SG)

 

[gundamhamtaro]

Currently looking at the below, while still undecided on heading to Niseko or Furano....

What are you planning to visit in Furano? Its more famous for flowers, so you cant really expect to see much in winter, unless you have another place in mind.

 

[bryando]

What are you planning to visit in Furano? Its more famous for flowers, so you cant really expect to see much in winter, unless you have another place in mind.

Have been reading that Furano is getting popular as a skiing spot also, and less "tourist-sy" compared to Niseko. Checked the websites and some guide books, there are quite a bit of winter activities there, and keen on the night skiing which Niseko doesnt offer....

 

[gundamhamtaro]

Have been reading that Furano is getting popular as a skiing spot also, and less "tourist-sy" compared to Niseko. Checked the websites and some guide books, there are quite a bit of winter activities there, and keen on the night skiing which Niseko doesnt offer....

ic ic, didnt know that Furano is getting popular as skiing spot.

 

[bryando]

ic ic, didnt know that Furano is getting popular as skiing spot.

Have read some articles on the place, and also found that Furano is listed for winter package at JTB as well.....

 

[angcsbenny]

Have u took proper ski lessons before? If yes 3 nights should be enough if not I will recommend at least one or two more nights. Will take about 2 days to learn how to parallel ski which is what you need to enjoy skiing in my opinion. Nickel is much more tourist friendly as compared to furano due to the huge amount of Australian visitors at niseko

 

[bryando]

Have u took proper ski lessons before? If yes 3 nights should be enough if not I will recommend at least one or two more nights. Will take about 2 days to learn how to parallel ski which is what you need to enjoy skiing in my opinion. Nickel is much more tourist friendly as compared to furano due to the huge amount of Australian visitors at niseko

No, first-timer for skiing......great advice, will look into extending more days into skiing then.....but think major concern is budget and also if my old body of bones can take it, ha!

Hmmmm.....based on feedback so far seems like it may be a better idea to swtich to Niseko instead of Furano......

 

[steadybongbibi]

erm... there is more activities in niseko than furano during winter season...

No, first-timer for skiing......great advice, will look into extending more days into skiing then.....but think major concern is budget and also if my old body of bones can take it, ha!

Hmmmm.....based on feedback so far seems like it may be a better idea to swtich to Niseko instead of Furano......

 

[steadybongbibi]

Well, the issues with winter drive is not too muchic abt car skidding on icing surface or hardware related issues.

its more abt direct'n and nagivat'n.... as the ground is veri much covered by a layer of snow, ppl whom not familiar with the surrounding might hv prob finding their directions, dont be surprise tat a seasoned driver can lost their way... !

No self drive, cause I no license

wife not comfy to be only driver, and not confident in driving in snowy winter

 

[Wood4]

Can we 'walk in' into any of the ski resorts , just to see around ?
Free entry ?

 

[asiafrenz]

Can we 'walk in' into any of the ski resorts , just to see around ?
Free entry ?

walk walk see see look look is fine with all ski resorts AFAIK, but u will be restricted to the public areas.

 

[cheefarn]

Well, the issues with winter drive is not too muchic abt car skidding on icing surface or hardware related issues.

its more abt direct'n and nagivat'n.... as the ground is veri much covered by a layer of snow, ppl whom not familiar with the surrounding might hv prob finding their directions, dont be surprise tat a seasoned driver can lost their way... !

Agreed. Actually its not difficult to drive in snowy weather at all. Just don't do sudden steering movements and no E brakes and u will be fine.

Snowy roads creates quite abit of drag contrary to what we'd believe. It is ice (black ice is worst) that will create all hell break loose kind of situation o the road.

And chances are major roads are all ploughed regularly to clear the snow.

I drove daily during snowy winter times in New England those many yrs ago... no problem at all.

Well make sure your GPS is up and running over there.

Almost all major roads in Hokkaido have downwards pointing arrows to indicate road edges. As such its quite unlikely to drive off the pavement no matter how thick the snow is